Alcoa's Stock Price Diverging From Aluminum Prices: Is It Sustainable?

In my previous article on Alcoa (NYSE:AA), Alcoa: Aluminum Prices Are Still Key, But Watching Some Positives, I noted that Alcoa's stock price was not declining on bad news, which could be a bullish signal. I was (and still am) cautious on Alcoa so I did not benefit from the spike in the stock price since the previous article. After years of Alcoa's stock price following the trend in aluminum prices, the two have been diverging recently. A drop in aluminum prices mainly impacts Alcoa's upstream segment. Although management has been positioning the downstream segment as the engine of the company's growth, I continue to view the upstream operation (and aluminum prices) as the main swing factor in Alcoa's valuation and stock price. Aluminum prices are at multi-year lows and are facing a key "bounce or breakdown" test. In this article I will explore these dynamics and the potential impact on Alcoa's stock price.

Basic Thesis On Alcoa

The following is my basic thesis about Alcoa from my previous article:

"Alcoa is a well run company with an attractive downstream business that produces components for several growing end-markets, especially automobile and aviation. However, its upstream business has been pressured from very weak aluminum prices. Alcoa has a lot of debt and is marginally cash flow positive, so the price of aluminum is the key driver of Alcoa's overall profitability and the stock price. The drop in aluminum prices below $1,800 could lead to a sharp move lower. The more time it takes for aluminum to recover this level, the greater the downside risks. Alcoa faces continued short term pressure with these low aluminum prices. Eventually, low aluminum prices will lead to more supply cuts, but it is unclear when that will happen and if they will be successful in reversing the downward move."

Stock Price Bottom Before Good News Arrives

Alcoa's stock price reflects a lot of pessimism already priced-in.

(Source: FreeStockCharts.com)

Considering this history, the stock price may bottom before good news appears.

The one-year chart shows the recent run-up in the stock price.

(Source: FreeStockCharts.com)

Positive Sentiment From Analysts

Over the last few weeks, there have been a number of analyst upgrades:

Despite the positive sentiment, aluminum prices are at new lows. Here is a one-year chart for LME aluminum (3 month buyer).

(Source: LME.com)

For most of the last year, aluminum prices and Alcoa's stock price fell in tandem. However, over the last few week's Alcoa's stock price diverged from aluminum prices. Alcoa's stock price has been rising while while aluminum prices dropped to new lows.

The new lows in aluminum prices are significant on a longer term timeframe as well.

(Source: LME.com)

Aluminum is at a key "bounce or breakdown" level. Some may argue that equity investors are anticipating a bounce in aluminum prices and driving up Alcoa's stock price in advance. However, I am not willing to call a bounce in aluminum prices just yet.

"Worldwide aluminum production exceeded demand by 1.2 million tons in the first nine months of the year, according to the latest figures from the World Bureau of Metal Statistics. That is more than double the 539,000-ton surplus recorded over the whole of 2012." (Source: Wall Street Journal,Aluminum Price Falls to Four-Year-Low Territory)

With supply/demand dynamics like this, I think it is risky to be early in projecting a bottom in aluminum prices.

LME Warehousing Rules

The price that producers like Alcoa get for their aluminum production is comprised of the LME price plus regional premiums (and other adjustments). Recent changes to the LME rules on withdrawing aluminum from warehouses may have a negative impact on regional premiums. Bloomberg recently reported:

"Premiums will fall at a faster pace as a result of the rule changes, Matthew Chamberlain, the exchange's head of strategy and implementation, said at the press conference. Waiting times may rise at first as investors order metal removed from warehouses before dropping back, he said." (Source: Bloomberg,LME Alters Warehousing Rules to Shorten Withdrawal Times)

The changes in the LME warehousing rules will probably not result in the opening of the floodgates releasing massive supply onto the market. However, I don't see how this will be a positive for regional premiums and/or aluminum prices. (I am not an expert on this, so if you have a different view, please let me know in the comments section below).

Financials and Valuation

The key issue for Alcoa is its ability to boost free cash flow. With a mountain of debt and pension obligations it needs significantly higher free cash flow. On a positive note, Alcoa is not facing near term debt maturities so it has time to grow its free cash flow.

Although the company is doing a good job of growing its downstream business, lower aluminum prices could be a headwind to free cash flow.

It is hard to argue that Alcoa is undervalued or overvalued in the short term. A lot depends on the key swing factor: aluminum prices.

Short Interest

Short interest is up dramatically over the last year, but fell in the most recent period. It will be interesting to see if the shorts hold their positions if Alcoa's stock price continues trading in the $9-10 range. If Alcoa's stock price remains resilient, some shorts may cover and provide additional demand for the stock.

(Source: Nasdaq.com)

Conclusions

In my last article I noted that Alcoa's stock price was not declining despite bad news. Since then, sentiment on Alcoa improved as two analysts upgraded the stock.

For the first time in a while, Alcoa's stock price diverged from the negative trend in aluminum prices. However, there seem to be ongoing headwinds in the aluminum market. I remain cautious on aluminum prices until I see more evidence of a turnaround.

I remain cautious on Alcoa until aluminum prices gives more signals of putting in a bottom. I may be late to the party, but prefer to minimize my risk. Alcoa has a tremendous amount of operating and financial leverage, so when things turn around there will probably be plenty of opportunity on the long side.

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